"You've got some nerve."
"The World Government has wanted your head for a long time now."
Dragon let out a faint chuckle.
"The world is waiting for our answer."
"If they want my head…"
"they're welcome to come and take it."
The moment he finished speaking—
violent winds swept through all of Loguetown once more, blasting Luffy, Zoro, and the others toward the harbor.
Smoker stood firmly in place without moving an inch.
When the winds finally calmed, he looked at Dragon and asked:
"So you're really going to stop the Marines from arresting pirates?"
"Dragon."
Dragon smiled lightly.
"Luffy may be a pirate…"
"but he's also my son."
"His adventure has only just begun."
"It would be a shame for it to end here."
"Besides…"
"If you intended to arrest him, why didn't you do it back at the 153rd Branch?"
Smoker raised an eyebrow.
As expected—
the Revolutionary Army had its own intelligence network.
Even though the newspapers never reported the incident at Shells Town, the Revolutionaries already knew about it.
"That was because he had only recently become a pirate."
"I wanted to give him a chance."
Dragon grinned.
"If there's a first time, there'll be a second."
"And today, since I'm here…"
"you're not catching Luffy."
Smoker clenched his fists.
Just as he was considering whether to attack—
Dragon suddenly spoke again.
"Smoker."
"I used to be a Marine too."
"I even reached the rank of Vice Admiral."
"Do you know why I left the Marines and founded the Revolutionary Army?"
"Why?"
"Because the roots of the World Government have already rotted."
"When the upper structure decays, the lower foundation follows."
"If the rulers above are rotten…"
"then the Marines can't escape corruption either."
Smoker replied coldly:
"I don't care about any of that."
"All I need to do…"
"is carry out my own duty."
"That's enough."
Dragon didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
"Smoker."
"I know you're a true Marine."
"That's why I don't want to fight you."
"But remember this."
"The Marines are still the same Marines…"
"…yet the World Government is no longer the same government."
Whooooosh—
As the fierce winds howled once more, Dragon's figure vanished into the storm.
Smoker remained standing there silently.
Lost in thought.
"Commodore Smoker!"
"What should we do now?!"
Smoker raised his head and answered calmly:
"Do I really need to tell you?"
"Arrest every pirate in this town."
"Leave none behind."
"Anyone who resists…"
"execute them immediately."
Drum Island.
Karl, Ain, Chopper, and Kureha sat around a bubbling hotpot, happily tossing in mushrooms, potatoes, fish, and all kinds of ingredients.
The atmosphere was lively.
"Well?"
"How is it, Chopper?"
"Does hotpot taste good?"
Chopper nodded repeatedly.
"Yeah!"
"It's super delicious!"
"Just a little spicy…"
"but I really like it!"
Ain immediately placed a piece of fish into Chopper's bowl with a smile.
"If you like it, then eat more!"
"Thanks, Ain!"
Pururururu~ Pururururu~
Karl took out his Den Den Mushi.
Seeing it was Smoker calling, he answered immediately.
"Yeah, it's Karl."
"What's up?"
"Straw Hat showed up in Loguetown today."
Karl's lips curled upward.
Without any attempt to hide it, he said:
"Oh?"
"Luffy and Zoro?"
"They actually dared to come to your turf?"
"So?"
"Did you go easy on them too?"
Smoker's tone became serious.
"No."
"I was just about to arrest them…"
"when someone unexpected appeared."
"He stopped me and helped the Straw Hats escape."
"Wait a second."
Karl's brows lifted slightly.
Something felt off.
He immediately stood up and walked outside.
Chopper watched Karl curiously and asked Ain:
"Who are Luffy and Zoro?"
"Are they Karl's friends?"
Ain smiled and shook her head.
"No idea."
"They're pirates anyway."
"Definitely not good people."
"Forget about them."
"Let's keep eating!"
Outside, Karl lowered his voice.
"Don't tell me…"
"Vice Admiral Garp showed up and rescued them?"
"Of course not."
"It was Revolutionary Army Supreme Commander Dragon."
"Straw Hat's father."
Karl dramatically sucked in a cold breath.
"What?!"
"Dragon?!"
"Why would he suddenly appear in East Blue?"
"And specifically at your place?"
"How would I know?"
"Anyway, he saved the Straw Hats at the critical moment."
"So tell me…"
"should I report Dragon's appearance to Headquarters?"
Karl fell silent for a moment before answering:
"If it were me…"
"I wouldn't report it."
"Oh?"
"I'd like to hear your reasoning."
"Nothing complicated."
"The Revolutionary Army opposes the World Government."
"Not the Marines."
"So why bother?"
"That's just making trouble for ourselves."
"Honestly, I can't wait for the World Government to collapse already."
Smoker burst out laughing.
"How the hell did someone like you manage to receive a Hero Medal from the World Government?!"
"That's easy."
"When it's time to back down, I back down."
"When it's time to curse them out, I curse them out."
"Hah… you really are something else."
"Alright."
"I know what to do now."
"How are things on your side?"
"Same as always."
"I'm basically treating this as a vacation."
"Right now, there's no chance for people like us to hunt truly big pirates."
"Oh?"
"You mean the competition between Admiral Aokiji and Admiral Akainu?"
"Pretty much."
"You'll understand once you reach the Grand Line."
"For now, all they'll send you after are tiny fry."
"Honestly, I'm not interested."
Smoker sighed.
"Got it."
Truthfully—
Smoker was fine with that arrangement.
That way, he could focus entirely on chasing the Straw Hats.
After all—
he had already declared he would capture them.
Yet they escaped right under his nose.
That irritated him greatly.
Even if it was just for pride's sake—
he absolutely had to catch Straw Hat Luffy at least once.
"REPORTING, COMMODORE SMOKER!"
"All pirates in Loguetown have been arrested!"
"Except for the captain of the Alvida Pirates."
"She's a Devil Fruit user."
"Her speed is incredibly fast, and bullets can't touch her."
"What about the Buggy Pirates?"
"All members have been captured."
"Including Captain Buggy the Clown."
Smoker nodded.
"Good."
"As for Alvida…"
"I'll deal with her personally later."
"For now, lock all the pirates up."
"YES SIR!"
Honestly—
Smoker's results this time were pretty impressive.
After all—
he technically captured one future Emperor of the Sea…
and drove off another future Emperor.
Even Karl didn't have battle records that outrageous.
Meanwhile, Reverse Mountain.
Looking at the gigantic mountain directly ahead, Sanji suggested:
"To celebrate entering the Grand Line…"
"how about we do a barrel vow ceremony?"
"Sounds good!"
"Let's do it!"
Everyone immediately agreed.
Sanji raised his foot and placed it atop the barrel.
"I'm going to find the ALL BLUE!"
Luffy copied him enthusiastically.
"I'm gonna become the Pirate King!"
His voice was full of energy.
Just moments ago he had nearly suffocated to death against Smoker—
yet now he was completely lively again.
As expected of a man destined to awaken the art of miraculous recovery.
Zoro spoke next.
"I…"
"will become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
Nami smiled softly.
"I'm going to draw a map of the entire world!"
Usopp nervously raised his hand.
"I-I-I…"
"I'm going to become a brave warrior of the sea!!!"
Amid the violent storm, the group looked at each other and smiled.
Every pair of eyes shone with hope for the future.
"LET'S GO!!!"
"TO THE GRAND LINE!!!"
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